Holiday Markets in Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis, MN's best holiday markets include Midtown Global Market ($8-15), Midtown Global Market (Free), and Northeast Minneapolis Arts District Art-A-Whirl (Free). Most run from late November through December 23rd — weekday visits avoid the biggest crowds.
Free zoo. Not a typo. Como Zoo is genuinely free and the polar bear exhibit is legit.
1225 Estabrook Dr, Saint Paul, MN 55103 · Daily 10am-4pm (winter), 10am-6pm (summer)
Four floors of hands-on everything. The Scramble climber goes up three stories. Toddlers through age 10.
10 W 7th St, Saint Paul, MN 55102 · Sun-Thu 9am-5pm, Fri-Sat 9am-8pm · Ages 0–10
Omnitheater dome screen is included with admission. The dinosaur gallery has real fossils, not casts.
120 W Kellogg Blvd, Saint Paul, MN 55102 · Tue-Thu 10am-5pm, Fri-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 10am-5pm, closed Mon · Ages 0+
Russia's Grizzly Coast, a tropics trail, and a Minnesota-specific exhibit. 20 minutes south of downtown.
13000 Zoo Blvd, Apple Valley, MN 55124 · Daily 10am-4pm (winter), 10am-6pm (summer)
Indoor theme park. In a mall. Seven acres. Your kids will not believe it exists.
5000 Center Ct, Bloomington, MN 55425 · Mon-Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 10am-7pm · Ages 2+
Walk-through ocean tunnel at the Mall of America. Touch pools. Sharks overhead.
120 E Broadway, Bloomington, MN 55425 · Mon-Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 10am-6pm · Ages 0+
Your kid names and wraps their own crayon. 25+ hands-on activities. Free on your birthday.
300 South Ave, Bloomington, MN 55425 · Mon-Thu 10am-6pm, Fri-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 11am-6pm · Ages 3–10
Flight simulation ride. You hang suspended and fly over national parks. About 10 minutes. Kids love it.
5000 Center Ct, Bloomington, MN 55425 · Daily, hours vary — check MOA schedule · Ages 4+
Always free. 90,000 works of art. Family Day second Sunday of every month with free hands-on activities.
2400 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404 · Tue-Sun 10am-5pm, Thu until 9pm, closed Mon
Built inside the ruins of an exploded flour mill. The Flour Tower ride takes you through eight stories of milling history.
704 S 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55401 · Thu-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm, closed Mon-Wed · Ages 0+
Electricity and magnetism museum in a Tudor mansion on Lake Calhoun. Your kid can make their hair stand up.
3537 Zenith Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55416 · Tue-Sun 10am-4pm, closed Mon · Ages 0+
Minnesota's natural history museum with a planetarium. The dioramas are stunning and the Touch & See Lab lets kids hold real specimens.
2088 Larpenteur Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55113 · Wed-Sun 10am-4pm, closed Mon-Tue · Ages 0+
53-foot waterfall inside city limits. Free. Playground, wading pool, disc golf, and bike rentals.
4801 S Minnehaha Dr, Minneapolis, MN 55417 · Daily 6am-10pm
Five connected lakes with beaches, bike paths, canoe rentals, and free wading pools. This is what summer in Minneapolis is.
3000 E Calhoun Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55408 · Parks open 6am-10pm
24 free outdoor ice rinks across the city. Free loaner skates at most locations. This is Minnesota.
Multiple locations citywide · Daylight to 9pm, weather permitting
Indoor ice rink. $5 open skate. $3 skate rentals. When it's -15 outside but your kid still wants to skate.
600 Kenwood Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55403 · Facility open 7am-10pm, open skate hours vary
Artist-designed mini golf, 125+ free-play arcade games, and kids' karaoke. Under 5 free. 21+ only after 9pm Fri/Sat.
755 Prior Ave N, Saint Paul, MN 55104 · Tue-Thu 4-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-12am, Sun 11am-7pm · Ages 0+
One full acre of indoor playground. Also has a pool, running track, and amphitheater. All indoors. Because Minnesota.
7700 York Ave S, Edina, MN 55435 · Mon-Thu 9am-8pm, Fri-Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 10am-5pm · Ages 1+
Jungle-themed indoor playground for $6. Same building has an indoor waterpark. Ages 1-10.
4580 Victoria St N, Shoreview, MN 55126 · Check Shoreview Community Center for current schedule · Ages 1–10
Free storytime, crafts, STEM programs. 41 branches across the county. The central library is architecturally stunning.
300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55401 · Mon-Thu 9am-8pm, Fri-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 12-5pm
Free live music all summer at the bandshell. Bring a blanket. Kids run around on the lawn. Nobody cares.
4135 W Lake Harriet Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55410 · Concert schedule varies, typically 7pm-8:30pm
Free first Saturday of every month. Free Thursday evenings. WAC Open Studio has drop-in art-making for families.
725 Vineland Pl, Minneapolis, MN 55403 · Wed-Sun 10am-5pm, Thu until 9pm, closed Mon-Tue
Downtown park with a playground, wading pool, and direct walking bridge to the Sculpture Garden.
1382 Willow St, Minneapolis, MN 55403 · Daily 6am-10pm
Kiddie amusement park right next to the free zoo. Rides are $2-4 each. Perfect for the under-8 crowd.
1301 Midway Pkwy, Saint Paul, MN 55103 · Daily 10am-6pm (summer), weekends only spring/fall · Ages 1–8
11 miles of enclosed, heated, second-floor walkways connecting 80 blocks. Free to walk. January survival mode.
Downtown Minneapolis (multiple entrances) · Most sections Mon-Fri 6:30am-10pm, reduced weekend hours
Free outdoor movies and live music in parks all summer. Bring a blanket. The mosquitoes are also free.
Multiple park locations citywide · Movies at dusk, music evenings — check schedule
Beyond the zoo: paddleboats, free pool, picnic areas, a Japanese garden, disc golf, and a historic streetcar.
1199 Midway Pkwy, Saint Paul, MN 55103 · Daily 7am-10pm
Indoor market with food from 20+ countries. Take the kids on a world food tour for the price of a few small plates.
920 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55407 · Daily 10am-8pm (hours vary by vendor)
Where Prince filmed Purple Rain — exterior stars mark every sold-out artist
701 1st Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55403 · Box office Mon-Fri 10am-6:30pm; shows nightly
Free Thursday evenings, free first Saturdays, kids always free
725 Vineland Pl, Minneapolis, MN 55403 · Wed-Sun 10am-5pm, Thu open until 9pm, closed Mon-Tue
Always free, no reservations — Rembrandt, van Gogh, Monet, 90,000 works
2400 Third Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404 · Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Thu until 9pm, Sun 10am-5pm, closed Mon
Free observation deck 178 feet over the Mississippi — no ticket needed
818 S 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55415 · Box office Tue-Sun, check schedule for showtimes
28 miles of trail connecting five lakes — free concerts at Lake Harriet
3000 E Calhoun Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55408 · Open 24 hours; rental hours vary seasonally
Somali to Native American food, 50+ vendors — free parking with purchase
920 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55407 · Mon-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 11am-6pm
Art installation mini golf + self-serve beer wall in a former can factory
755 Prior Ave N, St. Paul, MN 55104 · Tue-Thu 4pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-1am, Sun 11am-7pm, closed Mon
20+ taps, Furious IPA on draft, no reservations — just show up
520 Malcolm Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414 · Mon-Thu 3pm-9pm, Fri 3pm-11pm, Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-9pm
Museum built into actual flour mill ruins — Flour Tower ride through 8 floors
704 S 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55401 · Thu-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm, closed Mon-Wed
1916 movie theater with original ornate details — reopened 2023 with modern sound
2900 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408 · Show nights, check schedule
Where Prince recorded Purple Rain — tours only, book ahead
7801 Audubon Rd, Chanhassen, MN 55317 · Mon, Thu-Sun 8:30am-6pm (Fri-Sat until 7pm), closed Tue-Wed
53-foot waterfall in the city — free year-round, frozen ice formations in winter
4801 S Minnehaha Dr, Minneapolis, MN 55417 · Daily 6am-10pm
Free live music every single night — no cover, ever
331 13th Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413 · Daily noon-2am
Free lakeside concerts all summer — bring a blanket, sit by the water
4135 W Lake Harriet Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55409 · Summer concerts typically 7pm; schedule varies
Free Frank Gehry museum overlooking the Mississippi — the building is the art
333 E River Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55455 · Tue-Sun 10am-5pm, Wed until 8pm, closed Mon
Massive beer garden with lawn games, food trucks, and live music in a converted warehouse
1315 Tyler St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413 · Wed-Thu 4pm-10pm, Fri 3pm-11pm, Sat noon-11pm, Sun noon-8pm
Draft-only small-batch beers available nowhere else — cash only, board games, BYOF
1300 NE 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55413 · Tue-Thu 4pm-10pm, Fri-Sat noon-11pm, Sun noon-8pm, closed Mon
Largest open studio tour in the country — hundreds of artists, free, third weekend of May
Various studios, 13th Ave NE corridor, Minneapolis, MN · Third weekend of May (Fri-Sun); First Thursdays year-round
400-seat jazz club with dinner — late-night sets have lower cover
1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403 · Show nights, check schedule; dinner service from 5pm
Mississippi River patio with fire pits — one of the best brewery views in the city
1401 West River Rd N, Minneapolis, MN 55411 · Mon-Thu 3pm-10pm, Fri noon-11pm, Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-9pm
The famous Izzy scoop — a free bonus mini scoop of a second flavor on every order
2034 Marshall Ave, St. Paul, MN 55104 · Daily noon-10pm
Experimental art in a former soap factory — the Haunted Basement in October is legendary
514 SE 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55414 · Thu-Sun noon-5pm, check schedule for special events